Cycle construction and method of packing



June 21, 1932. H KRAEFT 1,863,859

CYCLE CONSTRUCTION AND METHQD OF PACKING Original Filed May 29, 1930FIG-4 gvumtoz 3& MWWYW HERMAN L. IKRAEFT, F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TOMURRAY-OHIO PANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATIONOF OHIO Patented June21, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MFG. GOM- CYCLE CONSTRUCTION AmMETHOD or raoxme Original application filed May 29, 1930, Serial No.457,256. Divided and this application filed December 29,

' 1930. Serial No. 505,221. 1

This application is a division of my prior application Serial No.457,256, filed May 29, 1930.

The object of this invention is to provide a cycle construction byvirtue of which the main frame parts may be folded into a relativelysmall space without disassociating the parts. f

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent fromthe following clescription relating to the accompanying drawing, showingthe preferred form of the invention. The essential characteristics aresummarized in the claims.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a sidewalk bicycleincorporating the invention, the handlebars and seat not being shown;Fig. 2 is a view of the folded frame in a suitable container, the wheelsand container being shown in broken lines, and Figs. 3 and 4 aresectional views substantially according to the lines 33 and 44: on Fig.1.

It has been the usual practice to make cycle frames with the steeringcolumn, center frame part or backbone, seat supporting mast andbackstays, substantially rigid, requiring that the packing container forthe cycle shall be as large as the overall dimensions of the assembledframe parts just mentioned; The expedient of detaching some of the mainframe parts, above mentioned, from each other, in order to condense thesize of the frame for packing and shipment, re-

quires more work on part of the dealers or ultimate users than they arewilling to undertake, in order to fully assemble the cycle and make itready for use. The dealers and users however, have no objection toattaching the I wheels, handlebars and seats, because these parts arevery simply mounted, and the dealers and users are accustomed toreceiving the wheels, etc. detached from the main frame. The invention,as above stated, solves the problem; the main frame being so arrangedthat it will collapse, but without necessitating taking the frame apart.

As shown in the drawing, the main center frame member is shown at A. Themember rearward end thereof is bifurcated at A in any suitable way (notshown) to embrace the mitting the wheel axle to-be moved longitudinallyof the backbone to tighten or loosen the driving chain, as desired.Intermediate ly of the ends of the backbone is a suitable pedal shafthanger B forming a suitable support for the pedal shaft'B (Fig. 4) whichcarries the usual sprocket wheel and pedals, the sprocket wheel beingindicated at B" in broken lines.

The present arrangement includes a suitable hinge formation on the crankshaft hanger for attaching the seat supporting mast, indicated at C. Forexample, the lower end of the mast C may be bifurcated as at 1 and asuitable U-shaped bracket 2 may be rigidly'supported on the crank shafthanger,

the mast C, are merely illustrative of the conventional arrangement ofparts, there being rear wheel, there being, as usual,suitable ad- Vjusting brackets, one indicated at A, pera seat post D for the usualseat (not shown),

backstay members, one being shown at E, a steering columnF, and a frontwheel fork G suitably supported in the steering-column; There are, ofcourse, suitable frontand rear wheels indicated at H and I,respectively.

The backstay members E may be pivoted in the usual way, as at 6, to theadjustable brackets A" forming the rear extremity of the backbone. Theupper ends of the back stay members are pivotally secured as byasuitable bolt 10 to rearwardly extending ears 11-0n a clamping strap 12.The clamping strap 12, as shown ,includes a bushing 13 of suitable formwhich is split, as at 14, to enable it to be compressed onto the mast C.The

inside diameter of the bushing is originally larger than the outsidediameter of the mast but, due'to splitting in the manner indicated, theinside diameter of the bushingmay be made to conform to the diam'eter'ofthe mast, vwhen clamping forceis applied to the-strap,

as will be obvious. The upper end of the mast C is also split as at 15.It will be seen, that when clamping force is exerted by the nuts 10 ofthe bolt 10, the bushing 13 will be tightly clamped onto the mast, andat the same time the mast will be tightly clamped against the seat postD, holding the latter at the desired elevation. 7

Now, when arranging the parts for shipment, it will be seen that it is asimple matter to loosen the nuts 10', relieving the clamping action ofthe bushin'g13 on the'mast, and to then simply slide the clamp 12 withits bushing 13 downwardly on the mast, as the mast and backstay membersare swung forwardly toward the steering column andbackbone (see Fig. 2).7 Thus the overall size of the frame, assuming the seat, frontsteering'fork and handlebars have been removed, becomes as indicatedin Fig. 2.Theframe,:the wheels andthe other parts of. the cycle may then be packedin arelativelysmall container, such as diagrammatically indicated inbroken lines at X.

I claim; V 7 1 1. A cycle frame, comprising, a main central framemember, a seat post supporting mast hinged to the central member, abackstay hingedly connected to the central member, and a clamp adaptedto be released and to slide on said mast, the clamp member'beingpivotallyiconnected to the upper end of the backstay whereby themastvmay be swung forwardly toward the mainframe member, withoutdisassociating the said frameparts, to collapse the frame 2. A cycleconstruction comprising, a mainframe or backbone, a steering columnrigidly secured to the forward end of the backbone, a crank hangerrigidly secured intermediately of the ends. of the backbone, a seatsupporting mast hinged to the crank hanger, a backstay, means pivotallyconnecting the lower end of the'backstay with the backbone, and a clampembracing the mast'and adapted to. slide along the same, therebeing-means pivotally connecting the clamp with the upper; end ofthebackstay whereby the clamp may be re; leased and-slid along themast tocollapse the mast'and backstay -'forw ardly toward the said backstay andseat post'supporting mast being hingedly connected to the backbone andslidably connected With each other, whereby the back bone,seat postsupporting mast and back stay may be folded together without detachingany of said parts from each other. 7

5. VA cycle frame comprising a mainframe member, a steering columnintegral with one end of said frame member, a back stay hingedlyconnected to the other end of said frame member, a seatpostsupportingmast hingedly connected to the main frame memberimmediate the endsthereof, and means for slidably and pivotally connecting the back staywith the seat post supporting mast,,whereby the supporting mast and backstay can be pivoted about the main frame member for decreasing theoverall dimension, for pack 111g purposes.

6. A cycle member, a seat post supporting mast hingedly connected tosaid main frame member, a seat post adapted to slide in said supportingmast, the supporting mast being split adjacent the vseat post, a clampsurrounding said seat post supporting mast and adapted to slide thereon,said clamp being adapted to draw the split portion of the supportingmast together to lockthe; seat post in any. desired position, a backstay member pivotally connected to-said frame member, and tosaid clamp,whereby the clamp ,may be released frame comprisinga main-frame.

and slide along the mast to collapse the mast and back stay forwardlytoward-the, mainframe--to. condense the overall" size of the frame.without detaching anyof said parts fromeach other.

1 In testimonywhere signature.

HERMll N L. QKRAAEFT, J

backbone and steering column to condense 1 the overall size of the'frame, without detach- V ing any of said parts from each other. 3.7 In acycle construction, a main frame element, a seat post andtubular seatpost supporting mast pivotally supported by said 7 7 element, a'backstay forthe mast, aclamp in embracing relation to the upper portionof the,mast,-the backstaybeingipivotally secured r f, hereunto afiiiz

